Customer Reviews

Rescue Pilot : Life-Saving At-Sea Navy Helicopter Missions

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WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. ENJOYED THE READ VERY MUCH. WOULD RECOMEND THE BOOK TO ALL CHOPPER FANS. HOPE TO FIND MORE LIKE THIS.

Great Book, tells of the everyday life of a U.S. Navy Piasecki HUP-2 Retiever Helicopter pilot and his experiences flying this Helicopter. THe pilot of the HUP-2 Retiever Helicopter had to concentrate 100% of the time in flight to the sounds the helicopter was making, The attitude the helicopter was in and flying the breifed mission. No auto rotation or auto pilot like the Modern Day SH-60 Seahawks have, THe HUP-2 Was all sight, sound, and feel, The Pilot was flying the helicopter 100% of the time. With a regular crew of just two. THe pilot in the left seat and an officer or enlisted crew member in the right seat, The pilot had little time to make written notes on his kneeboard and often had the other crewman write the notes for him. If a rescue was being performed the other crew member has to fold the right seat out of the way, open the rescue hatch(below the right seat), and operate the rescue hoist located above the right seat and the rescue door. There was no rescue swimmer in those days if the person being rescued could not climb in to the rescue sling, rescuee was most likely left for dead and the pilot would continue his flight. NOTE: THe rotor blades are Spruce wood with aluminum leading edges.
While Reading this book, I gained first hand knowledge of the Piasecki HUP-2 Retiever Helicopter by being a volunteer at the USS Midway Aircraft Restoration Hanger at NAS North Island. THe Piasecki HUP-2 the Midway got came from Edwards Air Force Base in July of 2009, and the volunteer artisans performed extensive work to make the HUP-2 a show quality museum aircraft. THe Piasecki is due onboard Midway in April 2011.

I found this book to be well written and very interesting. I had the pleasure of serving under Mr.McKinnon when he was the Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board. He was in charge when the CAB was Sunsetted. He did a terrific job under difficult circumstances. He displayed sincere compassion for the employees being terminated and encouragement to those of us transferred to D.O.T.

I was thrilled to see Mr. McKinnon mention my father, C.N. McKenna on page 64. His discription fit Poppa perfectly.